| |
Upper Kalskag
(KAL-skag); a.k.a. Kalskag
For Photos of Upper Kalskag click here
For a Map of Upper Kalskag click here
| Current Population: |
235
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
|
| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
|
|
| Location
and Climate |
|
Upper Kalskag (Kalskag) is located on the north bank of the Kuskokwim River, 2 miles upriver from Lower Kalskag. It lies 30 miles west of Aniak, 99 miles northeast of Bethel, and 348 miles west of Anchorage. The community
lies at approximately 61.537660° North Latitude
and -160.307210° West Longitude.
(Sec. 27, T017N, R061W, Seward Meridian.)
Upper Kalskag is located in the
Kuskokwim Recording District.
The area encompasses 3.8
sq. miles of land and 0.4 sq. miles
of water.
The climate in Upper Kalskag is semi-Arctic with influences from the Bering Sea. Snowfall averages 60 inches, with total precipitation of 19 inches per year. Temperatures range from -55 to 87 °F. The Kuskokwim is ice-free from mid-June through October. |
Topographic
map of
Upper Kalskag
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| In 1898, Nicholas Kameroff, Sr., Olinga (Avakumoff) Kameroff, and their eight children first settled the community. The village was a fish camp known as "Kessiglik." Around 1900, residents of "Kalthagamute" began to move to the village. In 1930, the BIA established a government school, and, by 1932, residents of neighboring communities relocated to Kalskag. In 1940, Paul Kameroff, Sr., established a general store, post office, coffee shop, and barging company. At this time, the community owned and worked a herd of 2,100 reindeer. During the 1930s, Russian Orthodox practitioners in the village relocated to establish Lower Kalskag, three miles to the southwest. The villagers who remained were primarily Roman Catholic practitioners. The city was incorporated in 1975.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Village of Kalskag.
The population of the community consists of 90.4%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Upper Kalskag is a Yup'ik Eskimo village which was strongly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church. Today, subsistence activities are an important component of their lifestyle. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 66, and vacant housing units numbered 4.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 3.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 80 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
12.09 percent,
although
45.58 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $28,333, per capita income was $7,859, and
24.21 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
|
| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Nearly all homes, the school, and the store have individual wells with potable water and indoor plumbing. A piped gravity sewage system with lift stations, force main, and lagoon serves over 60 households and facilities. The landfill is not permitted.
Electricity is provided by AVEC (Lower Kalskag).
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 14
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Catherine Alexie Health Clinic (907-471-2276); Clara Morgan Sub-Regional Clinic (907-675-4556) in Aniak.
Upper Kalsag is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 7A in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Region
|
| Economy
and Transportation |
Most cash income in Upper Kalskag is derived from employment at the school, city, or clinic. Some trap or work as BLM firefighters. One resident holds a commercial fishing permit. Subsistence activities provide most food sources. Salmon, moose, rabbit, and waterfowl are the primary resources. A few residents maintain gardens.
A state-maintained 4.2-mile gravel road connects Upper and Lower Kalskag. The Kuskokwim River affords easy access by skiff in summer and snowmachine in winter. Barges deliver cargo and bulk fuel during the summer. The state-owned 3,200' long by 75' wide gravel airstrip is shared by Kalskag and Lower Kalskag. Daily scheduled air services deliver passengers, mail, and other cargo year-round. Winter trails exist to Russian Mission (25 mi.) and Aniak (15 mi.). |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Upper Kalskag
P.O. Box 80
Upper Kalskag, AK 99607
Phone 907-471-2220
Fax 907-471-2237
Village Council -
Village of Kalskag
P.O. Box 50
Upper Kalskag, AK 99607
Phone 907-471-2207
Fax 907-471-2399
E-mail kalskagtribal@yahoo.com, bernice_hetherington@avcp.org
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Corporation - Calista Corporation
301 Calista Court, Suite A
Anchorage, AK 99518-3028
Phone 907-279-5516
Fax 907-272-5060
E-mail calista@calistacorp.com
Web http://www.calistacorp.com
Regional Native Health Corporation - Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp.
P.O. Box 528
Bethel, AK 99559
Phone 907-543-6020
Fax 907-543-6006
E-mail gene_peltola@ykhc.org
Web http://www.ykhc.org/
Regional Native Non-Profit - Kuskokwim Native Association
P.O. Box 127
Aniak, AK 99557
Phone 907-675-4384
Fax 907-675-4387
|
 |
|
